Chapter 95
Havoc
“No.”
The word comes out before she even finishes asking.
Aspen freezes.
“You’re not serious,” she says.
I don’t hesitate.
“I am.”
The barn is still heavy with smoke and dust, the aftermath of the fight hanging in the air—but this?
This is different.
This is where I draw the line.
Her eyes flash.
“I’m not staying behind.”
“Yes,” I say. “You are.”
Silence.
Sharp.
Immediate.
Because she’s not used to that tone from me.
Not like this.
Not when it’s final.
Her chin lifts.
Defiant.
“I helped find this,” she says, gesturing toward the box. “This is my grandpa’s land. This is my—”
“It’s exactly why you’re not coming.”
That stops her.
Just for a second.
Then—
“That’s not your decision to make.”
I step closer.
Not aggressive.
But solid.
Unmovable.
“It is tonight.”
Her breath catches.
Because she hears it.
Because she knows I mean it.
“This isn’t the same,” I continue, my voice lower now. “This isn’t a search. This isn’t a rescue.”
Her eyes search mine.
“What is it then?”
I hold her gaze.
“War.”
The word lands heavy between us.
Real.
Final.
And she knows it.
She shakes her head.
“No… I can handle this—I’ve been handling this—”
“I know you can,” I cut in.
And I do.
That’s not the problem.
“That’s not why I’m leaving you behind.”
Her voice softens.
Then breaks just a little.
“Then why?”
I take a breath.
Because this part?
This part matters.
“Because they’ll use you,” I say quietly.
Her eyes widen.
“They already tried,” I add. “They took your grandpa. They came after this place.”
I step closer.
Close enough that nothing else exists.
“If you’re out there with me… you’re a target,” I say. “If you’re here…”
A beat.
“You’re something I can protect.”
Silence.
Her breath shakes.
“You can’t protect me from everything,” she whispers.
No.
I can’t.
But I’ll try.
Every damn time.
“I can try,” I say.
And that’s the truth.
Raw.
Real.
Unfiltered.
Her eyes fill slightly.
Not breaking.
But close.
“And what if something happens to you?” she asks.
That hits.
Hard.
But I don’t let it show.
“It won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“No,” I admit. “But I know this—”
I reach up.
Brush my thumb gently along her cheek.
Grounding her.
Grounding myself.
“I can’t fight them and worry about you at the same time.”
There it is.
The real reason.
The one she can’t argue with.
The one that matters most.
Her eyes close briefly.
And I see it.
The moment she understands.
The moment she hates it—
But accepts it.
“I don’t like this,” she whispers.
“Good,” I murmur. “Means you’re thinking clearly.”
A soft, broken laugh escapes her.
Then she nods.
Once.
“Okay.”
That word?
That’s everything.
Because she’s trusting me.
Because she’s letting me go.
Because she believes I’ll come back.
I lean in.
Forehead to hers.
Just for a second.
Just enough.
“I’ve got you,” I murmur.
Even when I’m not here.
“Touching,” a voice cuts in.
I don’t turn.
Don’t need to.
CIA.
Of course.
“We’re not done,” the agent continues.
Now I turn.
Slow.
Controlled.
“No,” I say. “We’re not.”
His gaze flicks between us.
Then settles on me.
“You’re going after them.”
Not a question.
“Yeah.”
“You’re going to need help.”
I almost smile.
“Funny,” I say. “Doesn’t feel like you’re offering.”
His expression doesn’t change.
“I am.”
Silence.
Briggs shifts beside me.
“Yeah, this should be good,” he mutters.
The agent ignores him.
Focus locked on me.
“You’re dealing with Black Division,” he says. “You don’t have the reach for that.”
“Watch me.”
“You don’t have the intel.”
“I’ve got enough.”
“You don’t have the clearance.”
That almost makes me laugh.
“I don’t need it.”
A beat.
Then—
“You don’t have the backup.”
There it is.
The real offer.
I study him.
Long.
Hard.
Trying to read past the surface.
Trying to decide—
If this is help…
Or control.
“Why?” I ask.
His brow furrows.
“Why what?”
“Why help me?”
Silence.
Then—
“Because they’ve gone off the rails,” he says. “And if we don’t stop them now… we won’t get another chance.”
That sounds real.
Too real.
Which makes it dangerous.
Briggs leans closer.
“Smells like a setup,” he mutters.
Yeah.
It does.
But this?
This is bigger than us now.
Bigger than the team.
Bigger than the town.
And I know it.
I look at the agent.
“Fine,” I say.
His brow lifts slightly.
“But you don’t lead,” I add.
That lands.
Hard.
“You follow my rules,” I continue. “You don’t touch her. You don’t come back here without me. And if I think for one second you’re playing me—”
I let the threat hang.
Don’t need to finish it.
He understands.
After a long beat—
He nods.
“Deal.”
I don’t trust it.
Not even a little.
But I accept it.
Because sometimes?
You fight fire with fire.
I turn back to Aspen.
One last time.
Her eyes are on me.
Holding on.
Letting go.
All at once.
“I’ll be back,” I tell her.
She nods.
“I know.”
And that?
That almost breaks me.
Because I need it to be true.
I step away.
Forcing myself to move.
To turn.
To walk out that door.
Because if I don’t—
I won’t leave at all.
And I have to.
Because they’re out there.
Because they’re coming.
Because this ends now.
I climb into the truck.
Engine roars to life.
The team moves out.
CIA right behind us.
And as we pull away—
I don’t look back.
Because if I do—
I won’t stop.
And I don’t get that choice.
Not anymore.
Because this?
This is war.
And I’m going to finish it.
Ace stays behind to keep Aspen, Dylan, and Grandpa safe.”